Handheld Computing

1. What are MID and UMPC devices? How do they differ. List atleast three examples of both types of devices & include images.
A Mobile Internet Device (MID) is a multimedia capable of capable of providing wireless internet access. It is designed to provide entertainement, information and is for personal use. MIDs are smaller than the UMPCs, are consumer-class lifestyle devices, runs a 'lightweight' Operating System with quick startup like Linux and are optimized for things like media playback and web surfing. Examples of MID devies include the 'Neofonie WePad', the 'Archos 7 Home Tablet', the 'ICD Ultra' and many more. The Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC) is a business-class device for enterprise users, runs a "heavy" operating system like Vista and is optimized for office-use applications like Excel, and Word. Examples of UMPC devices include the 'Dell Inspiron Mini 9, the 'Viliv S5', the 'Motorola Droid X' and many more.

2. What are the differences between a Notebook handheld computing device and a Netbook handheld computing device? '
The Netbook computer device screens range from 7"-9" (inches), whereas the Notebook computer device screens range from 12.1", 13.1", 13.3", 14.1", 15.4", 17", 18" and 24". The Notebook has more storage capacity compared to Netbook, mainly because of the size difference. The Netbook is mainly for surfing the web, checking your email, running web applications and performing simple tasks. The Notebook is capable of letting you run all the programs that you might run on your home computer. The Notebook is capable of running a DVD, with a slot on the side, however, the Netbook does not aloow you to do such a thing. Another thing that varies is the battery life of the Netbook and the Notebook. The Netbook would last for approximately 3-4 hours, however, the Notebook would not last as long because because it drains the battery due to the number of applications in use. The Netbook is meant for Net Centric Computing, in other words, to perform simple tasks and Notebook has a full operating system, allowing you to do many more things. 


3. Describe the design and features of the Apple Ipad then discuss how it compares with a Netbook.
The iPad has no USB port connection although the Netbook allows us to use these facilities. The iPad has a large storage space compared to the Netbook. Also, the iPad is not capable of multitasking and has no webcam. It has a fairly fast internet speed and is mainly for browsing the web and surfing the internet.